In the constantly changing world of personal computing, very few things have remained the sameexcept the mouse, which has received mostly tracking and ergonomic refinements. Developers at Immersion Technologies, however, have finally rolled out a technology that adds a new dimension.

After sight and sound, touch is our most important sense. For the developers at Immersion, transferring a sense of touch to the Internet was only a matter of time; the problem was getting it done in such a way that the souped-up mouse would cost less than $50. The resulting technology is an electromechanical feat that translates digital information into physical sensation, so you can feel what's on-screen using the mouse.

The secret behind this newest foray into replicated sensory input is force feedback, a mechanism commonly associated with gaming joysticks and other peripherals and meant to provide a more realistic experience for console, video, and PC game enthusiasts.

What drives Immersion's TouchSense technology is a tiny motor, using magnetic actuators and sensors together with Immersion's microprocessor and software. Each sensation has been translated into specific mathematical equations that the microprocessor rapidly transforms to simulate a multitude of sensations. You may feel resistance when dragging a window, or liquids, textures, vibrations, and springs as your cursor passes over icons, buttons, and menus. Mice featuring the technology are currently hitting shelves.

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